Shoestring-fastening device



L.- C. BULLOCK, ln. SHOESTRING FASTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAIL 1|, 1920.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

[n1/MLM lewin* Czlllncl bx UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS CALVIN BULLOCK, JR, 0F STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHQESTRING-FASTENING DEVICE.

Specieatian of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 19120.

Application led March 11, 1920. Serial No. 364,878.

To all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, Lnwrs C. BULLooK, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at State Colleve, in the county of Center and State of Jennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoestring-Fastening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

(lne object of my invention is to provide an improved device which can be secured to the tongue of a shoe and which will serve to hold the shoe strings in their proper position preventing them from accidentally becoming untied and at the same time will hold the tongue of the shoe in its proper position preventing it from wrinkling or falling from its intended position.

Another object is to make the device of my invention of a simple and durable construction, so that it can be easily attached to the tongue of the shoe and can be easily used with advantage for the purposes above mentioned.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference bein had'to the accompanying drawings in whic Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device made in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing said device attached to the tongue of a shoe,

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary elevational views, partly in perspective, showing how my invention can be employed to permit the tying of the lace string of a shoe so that when tied the string will not accidenA tally become unfastened and the tongue will be held in proper position relatively to the upper of the shoe,

Fig. 6 is a view of similar character to Fig. 2 showing a slight modification in the device of my invention, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views of similar character to Figs. 2 and 6 showing other modified forms of the device of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive my improved fastenin device consists of a plate 9 which is re erably made of metal and stampedor orged so as to produce integral sleeves 10 which may be forced through the tongue 11 of a shoe and afterward clenched or beaded at the outer ends 12 to secure the plate to the tongue as clearly shown in Fig. 2.. The clenching sleeves 10 are spaced apart so as to firmly hold the plate 9 to the tongue and the plate 9 has a rib 13 projecting forwardly therefrom; Said rib being positioned preferably centrally between said sleeves as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The top edge of the rib 13 has a downwardly extending notch 14 therein which tapers in wardly from said top edge and said rib 13 immediately below said notch has a hole 15 extending therethrough; the edge 16 forming said hole being continuous as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. The plate 9 is secured to the tongue 11 of the shoe immedi` ately adjacent its top so that when said tongue is positioned as shown in Fig. 3, the plate 9 and rib 13 will be located adjacent the top edge 1T of the shoe upper 18 with the hole 15 of the plate slightly above the top lacing holes 19 of the upper; the notch 14 being positioned above the hole 15 so that the rib 13, which is made comparatively narrow7 can project outwardly through the parting 20 of the front edges of the shoe upper 18.

After the tongue has been placed in said position the end portions 21 and 22 of the shoe string or lace are projected in opposite directions through the hole 15, as shown in Fig. 3. after which a loop 23 is formed in the shoe lace by imparting a first tie 24 to the ends of the shoe lace and this loop is then reduced in size by pulling the end portions of the lace until the wrapped part 24 of the lace is forced down into the notch 14 and drawn taut as shown in Fig. Ll; said inwardly tapering part of the notch serving as guiding means to permit the wrapped portions 2-1 to be drawn tightly into said notch and so that the lace thus far tied will surround and bind the portion 25 of the rib 13 between the inner end of the notch 14 and the hole 15. The usual looped' bow 2G can then be formed and drawn taut so that its wrapping 27 will also be draw-ndown intov the notch above the Wrapped portion 24 and due, to the resilient characteristic of the material out of which a lace is usually made, the portion 27 of the bow will be firmly held within the notch as clearly shown in Fi 5. It will also be noted that the above tying of the parts will firmly anchor or hold the rib in position and since the rib is attached to the tongue through the medium of the plate 9 and clenching sleeves 10, it will be impossible for the tongue to move downwardly out of position.

In Fig 6 I have shown a modification which is similar to that described in Figs l to 5 inclusive with exception that the notch 14 has a restricted throat 14 and a comparatively wide inner portion lll) so that in drawing the portions of the lace into the notch they will lirst be compressed when passing through the restricted portion 14a and aiter passing farther into the notch they can expand within the inner portion let oi the notch and will not readily move out of the notch in view of the compara-- tively narrow portion 11F being located directly above the portion lab.

In Fig 7 I have illustrated another form of the device of my invention includingr two holes l and l5" which are located at opposite sides of a notch la and in this instance the device can be attached with either of the holes l5 or l5 above the notch il." and the ends of the lace can l e initially projected in opposite directions through the holes l5 and 15 and afterward tiefl and the tied portions forced within the notch 1f.

The form of my invention shown in Fig. S is similar to that shown in Fi 7 with the exception that the notch 14d etween the holes l5 and 15b has a restricted portion la similar in use to the restricted portion le described in connection with Fig. 6. In all other respects the forms of my invention shown in Figs. (i, 7 and 8 are similar to that described in connection with Figs. l to 5 inclusive and I have therefore given corresponding parts similar reference numerals.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and 'hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction Set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character describedvincluding a plate adapted to be secured to the tongue of a shoe and having a rib forwardly projecting therefrom whereby the rib can pass outwardly through the parting between the front edges of the shoe upper, said rib having a hole through whichV the end portions oil. the shoe lace can be projected and a notch adjacent said hole whereby a portion oil the lace, wrapped to form a loop, can be pulled when the loop is shortened; substantially as described.

2. A device olf the character described in cluding a plate adapted to be secured to the tongue of a shoe and having a rib forwardly projecting therefrom whereby the rib can pass outwardly through the parting between the front edges of the shoe upper, said rib having a hole through which the end portions o the shoe lace can be projected and a notch adjacent said hole whereby a portion of the lace, wrapped to form a loop, can be pulled when the loop is shortened, said notch being positioned above said hole; substantially as described.

il. A device of the character described including a plate adapted to be secured to the longue ol' a shoe and having a rib forwardly projecting therefrom whereby the rib can pass outwardly through the parting between the front edges of the shoe upper, said rib having a hole through which the end portions of the shoe lace can be projected and a notch adjacent said hole whereby a portion of the lace, wrapped to form a loop, can be pulled when the loop is shortened, said notch being positioned above said hole and projecting downwardly from the top edge of said rib; substantially as described.

f1. A device of the character described inclnding a plate adapted to be secured to the tongue of a shoe and having a rib forwardly projecting therefrom whereby the rib can yeas outwardly tlirough the parting between the front edges of the shoe upper, said rib havinig a hole through which the end portions o the shoe lace can be projected and a notch adjacent said hole whereby a portion of the lace, wrapped to form a loop, can be pulled when the loop is shortened, said notch having a restricted throat between its outer and inner ends; lsubstantially as described. j

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this 'specification in the presence of' two subscribinl witnesses.

LEWIS CA VIN BULLOCK, Jn.

Witnesses:

Mirrm E. HOLMES, JOHN L. lHoLMns. 

